Southeast Asia forum

74 days in SE Asia - please look at my itinery!

Sair83

Joined Travelfish8th April, 2008Posts: 9

Hi everyone.

As my topic title reveals, I will be spending 74 days (roughly 2 1/2 months) in the region, and have put together a rough itinery. I fly into Bangkok on the 30th September and out of Singapore on the 12th December. In between these two desinations I would like to visit some of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia. I've put together an itinery... please have a look and let me know what you think. All advice/suggestions will be welcomed!

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queanbeyan

I will be in North Laos at about the same time as you are in Luang Prabang. If you would like to meet we could visit some of the nice places together.

In general your trip looks pretty good - i am jealous - but I would suggest that you could spend some days in the more northern area of laos - there are some wonderful things to see. Let me know if you would like to see my itinery - it is only for 35 days but mostly focussed in North Laos.

I am travelling alone - and its always nice to meet someone to look out for.

marianwarren

Joined Travelfish12th March, 2006Posts: 270Total reviews: 13

Hi Sair83

Personally I think you are trying to cover too much distance. I would decide what are your must sees and maybe consider flying a few sectors to give you more time on the ground. I think from your itinerary your holiday will be spent mostly inside buses - these are all long countries - roughly 1000 kms, that's a lot of land travel which is very time consuming. You won't get the feel of a country from the inside of a bus or train.

In 11 weeks I spent 11 days in Chiang Mai; a week in Luang Prabang; 4 days on Don Khon - 4 thousand islands;5 days in PP; 5 days HCMC; Siem Reap 5 days; 4 days Ko Lipe; 10 days in Georgetown, Penang - all mainly by bus or boat. I think you need a rough skeleton with lots of flexibility - then if you find somewhere you really like you can spend more time there - if you find somewhere less interesting then move on to the next place on the agenda.

If you follow your itinerary I think you will be exhausted and need a holiday when you return home - remember less is more. If you don't get to see everything you want this time round it gives you an excuse to go back again.

Sair83

Joined Travelfish8th April, 2008Posts: 9

Thanks Marian and Doug!

Doug - meeting in Northern Laos sounds great. I too am a lone traveller (and have never been to SE Asia before), so some company would be great! I'd also love to see a copy of your itinery... how can I contact you?

Marian - I understand what you're saying, and I thought about that myself, but being tired is not really a massive problem, as this is the first part of a round-the-wprld trip for me. After Singapore I fly to Hong Kong for 1 week, then down to Australia (Perth) where I will have a few weeks to relax whilst waiting for my tax number to come through (enabling me to work there). So in a way, I will have a holiday to get over my trip. Also, my schedule is not necessarily rigid. If, as you suggest, I feel that I am spending too much time on buses and not enough time on the ground then I can always adapt it. The only parts that will be in place are my flight legs in/out of particular countries.

somtam2000

a) I'd allow an extra night in Kanchanaburi or skip it entirely.
b) Sukhothai has no train station, so you'll need to bus it from there to Chiang Mai
c) I'd overnight in Chiang Khong rather than Huay Xai -- no reason,, just like it more
d) If you want to break the Vientiane to Pakse trip at one place, the better option is Tha Khaek so you can do the trip to Kong Lor Cave -- but you'll need to give an extra day to Tha Khaek to be able to do so
e) Given your schedule, if you're not up for a triple heart bypass by the time you reach Pakse, I'd suggest skipping the day-trip to Tad Lo and Bolaven and instead get a good book, go sit by the river, drink cold beers and eat BBQ fish -- it;s good -- really... thank me later ;-)
f) Unless you really need the beach hit, I'd skip Sihanoukville, add an extra day to Phnom Penh and give the other to Tha Khaek.
g) You've got one night in Saigon... I've give it at least two...
h) It's a common thing that people try to see too much in Vietnam -- I think you need to drop a destination or add two days.
i) Back in bangkok, I'd fly to Phuket rather than bus and train combo -- it will be far faster, and not cost much more.
j) I'd skip Penang - just no time
k) Give an extra night to KL of Melaka

The plan you have looks good on paper, but once you're on the road -- especially in laos and Vietnam, things never go as planned. I'd look into Bangkok Airway's Discovery Airpass and also check out AirAsia for cheap airfares to save you time without costing too much.

queanbeyan

You can contact me at my email address
luangprabang at live dot com dot au

obviously replace the 'at' with '@' and the 'dot' with '.'.

I would strongly suggest more time in north laos - you may never want to leave after you see luang prabang - and that is only the start of the joys of northern laos.

I started travelling in SE Asia in 1987 and I am still excited about every trip. I decided that i should learn some languages to enhance my love of the region - so i studied Thai ant universtity for 4 years and at some colleges in Bangkok. I am learning Lao now too - so I am keen to travel and use those skills as much as possible.

Keep in touch - even if we only have time for a beer somewhere - its fun to meet up.

Bronita

Joined Travelfish14th August, 2008Posts: 2

Wow! Your trip is very similar to mine, only I arrive in BKK on the 3rd, and (say if we were travelling together) we'd split after Phnom Penh. I think I think I might be travelling a bit slower than you, and I only have 63 days, that's why I had to cut out Vietnam (this time).

I don't have advice to offer, as I haven't been there yet, except that I think you itinerary looks good, and I hope you have a great time! I'd offer to meet up, but as you're going so fast, I think we'd miss each other every time. I'll be chasing you around SEAsia!

queanbeyan

Joined Travelfish9th June, 2008Location AustraliaPosts: 28

Hi Bronita

I arrrive in bkk on 5 october and leave for luang prabang on 8 october - when will you be in luang prabang? I will leave Luang Prabang on 12 for the northern part of my adventure - and return on 29 October ready to return to ChiangMai on 31.

Let me know if you are interested in catching up for a beer Lao or some food.

Sair83

Joined Travelfish8th April, 2008Posts: 9

Hi Bronita!
My itinery is not set in stone (except for my flight from Pakse to Siem Reap) so we may just bump into each other along the way! I'd love to have somebody to travel with, so if you would like to try and meet up I'm sure it could be arranged(at least up until the Phnom Penh section anyway).
Leave me a messgae on here if you fancy it, or even as Doug says, meeting up for a beer.